Ativan withdrawal

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-13-2006
Ativan withdrawal
10
Sun, 08-06-2006 - 11:54am

I have been taking ativan for about 2 months. I know my body is addicted to it. I stopped taking it on Friday and I'm having withdrawals. I get this numb feeling in the back of my mouth and throat and feel a bit fuzzy. I also have the feeling of a lump in my throat (like the feeling just before you cry). I was wondering if anyone else has had withdrawal symptoms and what they were like. Also, how long does it last? I've been really tempted to take one, but I really want to be off of it on a daily basis and use it only when I'm feeling really anxious.

Thanks,
Candace

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Sun, 08-06-2006 - 1:17pm

I cannot recommend anyone stop their meds without consulting a doctor first. It is possible to become habituated to ativan. What you're describing, Candace, *could* be withdrawal symptoms. Generally they would occur 3 to 5 days after stopping the med.


I quit xanax *cold turkey* many years ago. It didn't work for me. I had to slowly decrease the xanax every 5 to 7 days. I went from 3 pills a day to 2 pills, to 1 pill, to a half pill, to 1/4 pill. My dr. would not help me, as she felt I would always *need* the xanax. I did it on my own. My bad): I had terrible shakiness, nausea & diarrhea & near panic as my symptoms. As a nurse, I have seen people who got so sick from withdrawal they required admission, IV's & meds to help them through. That is why I want you to do as I say, not as I did. Honest! Please take care. (((hugs))) jan





 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-2006
Sun, 08-06-2006 - 2:41pm

Please do not stop taking this type of medication (or any other)


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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-13-2006
Mon, 08-07-2006 - 11:00am
Yes, the ativan was helping, but I thought maybe it was time to stop. I had a terrible day yesterday and took one and I took another this morning. I guess I'm not ready to stop. I'll try again later and use your advice and call the doctor. Weaning off is a much better idea. Thank you.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-19-2006
Mon, 08-07-2006 - 2:21pm

I was on xanax for 5 years taking 2mg at bedtime. That is alot. When I decided to get pregnant in 2004, I slowly weaned myself off of them. But even after that, I would sit up night after night with sweaty anxiety. After a couple of months, I got better. But now I'm back with my anxiety so bad I feel like begging for xanax. I dont think I ever reallllly recovered...you know what I mean. I'm trying so hard to stay strong.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU!
Jessica

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-13-2006
Mon, 08-07-2006 - 2:30pm
Man, that is scary. I don't want to go through more anxiety again! I'm just going to continue taking it for a little while, then wean off VERY slowly. I usually take one pill per day (.5mg). So it's not a huge dose. I was just thinking I'd be less tired off of it. Boy, I'd rather be tired than have anxiety though!
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-27-2003
Mon, 08-07-2006 - 6:03pm

hey candace, it sounds like your doing well dispite the physcial withdrawl...hang in there...it will get better.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-13-2006
Mon, 08-07-2006 - 6:08pm
Thanks Heather! I'm doing alot better. The anxiety is not really noticeable with Ativan. It got a little too much without it, so I'm taking it again and will try every other day or so. We'll see what happens. I'm definately not back to 100%, but I'm certainly better than the 10% I was. LOL. How are you doing with your anxiety and pregnancy?
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-2006
Tue, 08-08-2006 - 7:05pm

Sorry it took me so long to respond.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-27-2003
Tue, 08-08-2006 - 8:56pm

hey candace, i'm doing so-so...i had a really rough day today...high anxiety for no real reason...maybe its cause i got this super huge ultrasound coming up and i'm really worried about it...or maybe its cause the idea of having another baby is really starting to become a reality...i don't know, but i do know i'm sooo sick of the anxiety! i think the ups and downs hormonaly really set me off too...maybe thats whats going on...ahhhhh!


the pregnancy is going good, like i said this ultrasoudn will really give us somemore insight into how the pregnancy is going. they are going to check the heart since taking paxil increases the risk of heart malformations which scares the ##(@*&

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-13-2006
Tue, 08-08-2006 - 11:00pm

Today was a great day. I took my ativan this morning and paxil. I didn't feel any anxiety at all and that was such a nice relief. Silly me, I fell into that trap of thinking I was better so I could stop taking the ativan when it was the ativan that was making feel better!

Hang in there Heather, you won't have to live this way forever. A solution will come to you for real relief some way or another. I have faith that it will!